I cannot believe people trust their luxury cars here. I cannot overstate how much I would avoid this place.
I used Yelp to get a quote. My 5 year old car has never been detailed, plus it sustained some damage from a tire blowing out in front of me. I was hoping some TLC would do the trick. AO Detail, according to Yelp, was well loved and respected. Nick, the owner, gave me a quote. After about a month, I contacted him a 2nd time through his website and set up a date for a 4 step detail service. He was accommodating though short on the phone. I didn't mind.
In the days leading up to it, I went on their Instagram to get myself excited for my car's transformation and noticed, in multiple places, their Black Friday Sale blog post advertised. (It still is as I type this. I attached photos.) I looked and it appeared the sale was still going on, as Square showed stock available and the URL still working. All I had to do was purchase it in advance and bring in the certificate. Great! I took advantage of getting 15% off my already planned 4 step detail service. Everything was fine until I noticed the next morning, I had $40 refunded to my card. Weird...
The day of service, I dropped off my car 3.5 hours earlier than I promised. Hours went by and business close comes at 5:30. Nick mentioned he may need to keep my car overnight, but no one bothered with even a courtesy text that it was staying the night. I was annoyed but brushed it off. I'll call in the morning.
Next morning, I get a text that my car is done, but to call a number. I call the number and Nick picks up. I recite the text, and he sounded confused why I was bothering him. Again, I brushed it off until I got a call from him a few minutes later. It was a mix up. Apparently, MY car wasn't ready, it was another Toyota Prius they had in the shop. It had been over 24 hours they had my car and it still wasn't ready. The fact my car was confused with someone else's put me on alert when I finally went to pick it up.
I pull up to my car parked near another silver Toyota Prius, though theirs had body modifications. At least the mix-up wasn't completely crazy. I walked up to my car before I went inside and immediately saw issues. With all of the odd communication, the random $40 refunded, and my car not looking done, I walked in more curious than ever.
I walk in suspicious. Nick is cocky. I ask him what service was done on my car, and he mentioned that they decided to do a 3 step detail.
But I booked a 4 step.
Even more interesting is that the 3 step detail was the Black Friday price I paid, minus $40. How convenient!
I asked him why they did the 3 step, and he said that "I didn't need it". I probed him again - why would he make that decision on my behalf and not tell me? - and he got cocky again. "I can just charge you for the 4 step if you really want it". I gritted my teeth.
Next, he starts ringing me up. Interesting. I remind him that I already prepaid, and bring out my phone and show him the credit card transaction. He looks at it and acts surprised. The amount on the register is $40 less than what I prepaid. He mentions that he now owes me a refund. I tell him that he doesn't, because he already refunded me $40. He continues to act confused that he didn't do it but in what he says, proves he's aware that I took advantage of the Black Friday sale he left up. Magically the amount I now owe for the downgraded service is all worked out by that mysterious $40 refund he "had no idea" about!
He's being dishonest. I didn't want to fight with him on NYE. He clearly didn't want to honor the Black Friday sale for the 4-step detail, so instead he took off the $40, and downgraded me to a full price 3-step. Unprofessional and petty. If you didn't mean to keep it up, you made a mistake, dude. It happens. Talk to me like a person instead of doing sketchy stuff like this? Now I'm on even higher alert.
He gives me the keys and I go outside. I've attached just 4 pictures of the *$300+* detail that they did. I suspect Nick was pissed at me for taking advantage of a sale he left up and told the boys to turn the car over in an hour or two and send it on its way. The more I looked at the car, the more I found. I was furious.
Nick can't say anything as I point out area after area of the car skipped over. He cited he was embarrassed but didn't want this to ruin his reputation. He refunded me, and asked for a second chance, blaming his crew. He offered to redo my car - pick it up at my house - to prove himself, but after thinking about it, I chose to do this review instead. He proved he can't be trusted from downgrading my service, not communicating with me, and being a weasel throughout everything until he realized the consequences of his actions. Unreal. Stay away. read more